Flaming Sun Collection 1: Happily Ever Afters from India Box Set (The Malhotra Bride; Meghna; The Runaway Bridegroom) Read online

  “But you did, this afternoon,” she pointed out innocently.

  “This afternoon—well, that was a long time ago. And now is now. No, Meghna.” Rahul’s voice was firm.

  “Why?”

  Rahul sighed. “It’s easier to handle Sasha’s and Rehaan’s ‘Whys’. Let me go, Meghna,” he insisted.

  “No, I don’t want to.” Meghna’s face turned mutinous.

  “Sweetheart, what do you know about the male anatomy?”

  Meghna looked at him silently, wondering what he was getting at. “Why the biology lesson so early in the morning?” she asked.

  “After the kind of dancing we did and the way we kissed each other in the hall just now, I’ll not be able to sleep with you, Meghna. I won’t be able to stop myself from making love to you.” Not seeing any light of understanding on her face, he added, “Completely.”

  Much to Rahul’s delight and amusement, a crimson blush stole over Meghna’s cheeks as she caught on. She buried her face on his broad chest and uttered a muffled “Sorry”.

  “Don’t be. I’m just glad you trust me so much. Now, Goodnight.” He removed his arms from around her as he placed a chaste kiss on the top her head.

  “Or would you rather I stayed back and helped you untie the complicated knots on your kameez?”

  “Yes please,” came the squeaky answer, as Meghna turned around, presenting her back to him.

  Rahul pressed his lips to her neck, his arms going around her once more. He pulled at the knot with his teeth, his lips tracing a path of fire on the smooth skin of her back. Meghna felt too weak to protest as his hands rose to curl around her breasts. Strange sensations floated in her body as he touched her in a way she had never been touched before.

  Her head fell back against his shoulder as he moved his hands restlessly against her anarkali top. Rahul wondered whether he would make it to his bed at all. He felt extremely reluctant to part with Meghna.

  “Tell me to leave, Meghna,” he whispered against her jaw line. “Please.”

  Meghna realised that he was fighting for control. She gently pulled his hands away from her protesting body and moved away from him. “Goodnight, Rahul Darling.” She blew him a kiss, “Sweet dreams.”

  “Goodnight, Honey,” said Rahul for the nth time before moving swiftly out of her door. He put his head back inside for a moment to say, “Please lock your door, just in case.” He gave her a broad wink before pulling his head out and closing her door firmly behind him.

  Meghna stared in his wake for a few minutes, grinning broadly. She felt delirious with happiness. RahulHer Darling Rahul Finally she felt she belonged to him. Her face coloured as she gently pulled off her top. She stepped out of her churidhar straight into the bathroom.

  She opened the shower and let the sharp needles of water stroke her as she felt a new awareness of her own body. It felt like a stranger had taken her place. She felt wicked as she soaped herself, running caressing hands all over, feeling on top of the world.

  She stepped out of the shower after shampooing her hair and rinsing it thoroughly. She wrapped a towel around herself and walked into her bedroom and looked at the bed.

  She felt wide awake. No point in going to bed. It was almost 5 o’clock. She felt totally recharged. She decided to surprise Reema Bhabhi by preparing breakfast and lunch.

  She went to her wardrobe and pulled out her brightest clothes - A pair of sunny yellow shorts and a patterned t-shirt in yellow, green and orange. She dressed quickly before drying her hair with a hair-dryer. She smiled at herself in the mirror as she realised that all the curls had straightened out. She pulled her hair into a high ponytail and secured it with a scrunchie. Pulling on a pair of rubber sandals, she went into the kitchen to begin her day.

  She switched on the music system and kept the sound low so as not to disturb the others. She hummed along as she set to work. The coffee filter was bubbling happily when she started roasting semolina to make upma for breakfast. She removed the plastic container of shelled peas that Reema usually stored in the freezer and another container of grated coconut. She removed some carrots and beans from the refrigerator. Armed with some tomatoes, potatoes and onions, she set to work happily, chopping the vegetables. She grinned crazily at the plants Reema grew on the window sill as the golden glow of dawn shimmered through the west facing window.

  Meghna stored the piping hot upma in a hot case before placing all the ingredients for the coconut chutney in the mixer, to grind later. The milk had boiled over. She made herself a cup of coffee and sat down on the cane swing in the hall, looking through the window at the awakening world.

  After the relaxed cup of coffee, she went back into the kitchen to get lunch ready. She found kidney beans soaked in water. She put that in the pressure pan to cook the children’s favourite rajma. She kneaded some dough of self-rising flour to make hot naans later. She shredded spinach to make palak paneer, a dish of spinach and fresh cottage cheese.

  She was humming contentedly, unaware of the passage of time. It was gone seven when a startled Reema found her dear sister-in-law working hard in the kitchen, singing to herself.

  “Bhabhi,” Meghna protested. “This is supposed to be your morning in bed. Please go back and let me serve you and Sanjay coffee there.”

  Reema studied the younger woman’s glowing face for a moment before asking, “Has he popped the question yet?”

  Meghna blushed a fiery red before shaking her head, “Not yet, Bhabhi.”

  “Which means very soon,” declared Reema.

  Meghna nodded her head shyly as Reema gave her a hug. “Congratulations, my dear. It’s high time.”

  “Thank you, dear Bhabhi and now off with you. Go back to bed. Let me indulge you for a change.”

  “That you do anyway on all weekends, Meghna. But today’s a special day for you. You shouldn’t be working so hard,” protested Reema.

  “But Bhabhi, I’m too excited to sleep. I feel revitalised. What better way to shed off this energy than work in the kitchen?”

  “You mean you haven’t slept at all?” asked the intrigued Reema.

  Meghna gave her a mischievous grin before saying, “No Bhabhi. It was quite late when we returned. Or should I say early morning. Then I had a shower and was too wound up to go to sleep.” Meghna blushed once again as she could see from Reema’s expression that she could read quite well between the lines.

  Meghna shooed her sister-in-law back to her bedroom before arranging a tray with a jug of coffee; a cup of sugar; mugs and spoons. She walked over to her brother’s bedroom and knocked before entering.

  Sanjay opened his arms wide to give her a hug as she placed the tray on the side table. “Congratulations, Sweetie,” and kissed her on her forehead.

  Meghna felt as if her face had permanently changed to the colour of beet. She sat on the corner of the bed and poured three mugs of coffee before passing a cup each to Sanjay and Reema. She shared a few precious moments with them before the children woke up.

  Thirteen

  The household was alive with chatter, what with the squabbling kids and Sanjay and Reema busy making tentative plans for a wedding. Meghna kept glancing at Rahul’s bedroom door from time to time, willing it to open. ‘Should I go in and wake him up?’ she thought. Then she shook her head to herself. ‘Let him sleep’. It was barely nine and he had gone to sleep only in the morning.

  But she didn’t want to have breakfast without him. Actually, Meghna realised that she didn’t want to do anything in life that would take her away from her precious Rahul. She wondered whether he felt the same way as she did.

  Without stopping to think, she walked into his room to find the bed empty. She could hear the shower running in the bathroom and decided to wait for him there. She made the bed, folding away the bed sheets and looked around for any other clutter. The room was very neat except for a few signs of occupancy. The ever meticulous Rahul - just her opposite.

  She heard the water stop running and turned a
way towards the window. She moved back the curtain a few inches and looked down on the swimming pool, staring with unseeing eyes.

  The object of her thoughts towelled himself dry while whistling a popular tune. His thoughts were filled with Meghna. He couldn’t help smiling when he thought of their parting the night before. Both had been extremely loath to leave the other. He couldn’t wait to meet her again. Oh, God, she felt so perfect in his arms. He stepped out of the bathroom in a hurry, wrapping the towel around his waist.

  Rahul felt Meghna’s presence in his bedroom even before he saw her at the window. His eyes lit up with pleasure when he saw her slim, long, bare legs. He walked over and slid his arms around her before saying, “Good Morning, Honey,” very softly in her ear.

  He smelt fresh from the shower, his hair still damp. Meghna turned around and sliding her arms around his waist, buried her face on his bare chest, wishing him a muffled, “Good Morning,” in return. She loved the feel of his silken body hair against her face.

  Rahul felt peace seep through him as he held her soft body close to his own hard one. She felt perfect in his arms and he realised that he wanted her to become a permanent feature in his life. Gone were the days of his bachelordom. He didn’t crave for them any more. He was more than ready to become a married man and raise a family of his own. This thought gave birth to a new one. He wanted to become the father of Meghna’s children, and how A couple of tiny tots with dark brown hair and stormy grey eyes danced before his vision and his arms tightened around the woman who was responsible for his day dream.

  Meghna looked up at him questioningly and Rahul was shocked to see her blood shot eyes.

  “What’s it, Honey? Have you been crying?”

  Meghna frowned at him, a question in her eyes, before shaking her head vigorously, “Nahi toh?”

  Rahul’s forehead pleated in a frown of anxiety, “Your eyes are red.”

  “Oh that That’s because I’m feeling sleepy.”

  “Then why did you get up? You should’ve stayed back in bed.” Rahul sounded puzzled.

  “But I never went to bed,” smiled Meghna despite her tiredness.

  “What?” barked Rahul. “Why?”

  Meghna looked at his concerned face, her grey eyes dancing with mischief. “Now who’s sounding like Sasha and Rehaan?” she asked. Then seeing the fire in his gaze, she added hurriedly, “My bed felt too lonely. So I decided not to sleep.”

  “Meghna,” Rahul’s voice sounded exasperated. “Now you’re being unreasonable, Honey. You—”

  “Rahul,” Meghna interrupted him, her face serious. He watched the change in expression warily. “Rahul,” she repeated, “will you stop reading me a lecture and give me a kiss?” she demanded. “What’s the world come to, I wonder. Females having to beg guys to ……mpft.”

  Rahul cut her off mid-sentence by kissing her thoroughly. Meghna met him halfway, revelling in the strength of his arms around her. She freed her hands to let them roam over the large expanse of his exposed chest, her fingers tangling in the dark silken hair. Rahul groaned against her lips, his body shuddering with the restriction he was imposing on it.

  He caught hold of both her hands and held them down by her sides. Meghna opened her eyes to look at Rahul, ready to protest. When she met the ardent look of desire in his eyes, her lashes came down to cover the answering light in her own grey ones.

  “Just give me a couple of minutes. Let me get dressed. Then we can go have breakfast.”

  “You look great just as you are,” commented Meghna, looking at him boldly.

  “Yeah, I know,” said Rahul, completely audacious. “Only I don’t want to embarrass the others.”

  “Such modesty,” Meghna shook her head, giving him a mocking look, her eyes twinkling.

  “Now are you turning away or should I—” Rahul’s hand went to his waist to pull off his towel. Meghna turned away in a hurry to hide her blushing face against the curtain.

  “You may look now. I’m all done.” Meghna turned around to find Rahul dressed in figure hugging jeans and a black t-shirt, his feet bare. He stood before the mirror on the dressing table combing his hair. Meghna walked up to him and asked, “Are we going somewhere?”

  “Not we. I’m.” Catching hold of the look of disappointment on Meghna’s face, he elaborated, “I think you need to sleep for a few hours. I’ve a couple of jobs to finish in the meanwhile. I should be back,” he lifted his left arm to look at the sleek watch on his wrist, “by noon.”

  “Alone?” asked Meghna. Rahul looked at her strangely, not understanding. When he did, he gave her a broad smile before slipping an arm around Meghna’s shoulders and pulling her close. “Believe me,” he bent down and whispered in her ear, “I’d much rather sleep with you. But I do have these errands to run. So, that’s that.” He shrugged his broad shoulders before dragging her out of the room. They had breakfast with Sanjay and Reema, the children having already had theirs. Sasha and Rehaan were absorbed in the Tom and Jerry Cartoon show on TV.

  “This upma and chutney are out of this world, Bhabhi, you’ve excelled yourself.” Rahul praised enthusiastically as he served himself a second helping.

  “Well, you’ll have to tell Meghna that. She’s the one who made the breakfast,” confessed Reema.

  Rahul looked at Meghna in amazement. He was reminded of the time she had insisted on making lunch for Sanjay and him. She was experimenting her newly acquired culinary skills on them. The runny dal, misshapen, rubbery rotis and half-cooked rice flashed before his mind’s eye. Rahul felt laughter bubble in his throat as he recalled the scene. Meeting his eyes, Meghna recollected the same incident. Only to Rahul’s further surprise, instead of flashing thunder, her face settled into a smug expression, a look of confidence challenging him to withdraw his own compliment.

  Rahul laid down his spoon before reaching for her right hand. Her nerveless fingers dropped hers, the spoon clattering down noisily on the dining table.

  She raised shy eyes to look at the man she had fallen in love with. Rahul raised her hand to his lips, turning it around, kissing her palm before closing her fingers over it. Meghna felt a thrill of pleasure when he said, “Excellent food. Thank you, Honey.”

  Her eyes made a note of the tender light shining in his and she gave him a dazzling smile in response, “You’re welcome.”

  They went back to their breakfast, seemingly unaware of the other two people sitting at the dining table.

  SANJAY OFFERED RAHUL THE KEYS TO HIS FORTUNER as the latter was donning his shoes.

  “No, thanks, Sanjay. I’m taking Meghna’s bike.” Rahul showed him the keys that Meghna had given him earlier.

  He left the flat with a spring in his step. He wore a bright blue baseball cap on his dark, unruly locks. He sat astride the bike and stroked it lovingly, feeling close to its owner. That was the reason why he opted to use it instead of the more comfortable four-wheeler.

  His first stop was at a car rental agency to hire a Volkswagen Vento for the evening. He arranged with the man in charge to have it delivered at ‘Kalpataru Residency’ by 5.30 pm.

  Then he went to JW Marriot Hotel at Juhu and reserved a private dining room at their Saffron Restaurant. The room could comfortably seat twenty. Rahul explained to the manager exactly how he wanted the room decorated. He took his time going over the menu and carefully choosing the starters, the main meal and the dessert, having an idea of Meghna’s likes and dislikes. He finally ordered a bottle of champagne and left once both he and the manager came to an understanding.

  His last stop was at the jewellers. He went to Tribovandas Zaveri at Opera House. He asked to see some rings. The salesman showed him a variety of diamond rings. Rahul studied them with great concentration but wasn’t happy with any of them. He looked at the man behind the counter and asked, “Do you have anything else? I mean rings with other precious stones?”

  “Yes Sir,” replied the salesman before having the diamond rings removed and bringing forth three more t
rays. They glittered with sapphires, emeralds, rubies, pearls and corals. Rahul ran his index finger over them, looking totally uninspired by the lot.

  On the third tray, he caught the flash of a large opal set in a cluster of tiny diamonds.

  “This is it,” said Rahul, his face alight with pleasure and satisfaction.

  The salesman lifted the ring from the holder and wiping it with a piece of chamois leather placed it on a royal blue velvet cloth. It looked even more attractive in that background.

  Rahul looked at the ring with enchantment. The opal appeared to blaze with a fire at its centre. It was oval in shape and glittered with a myriad of colours as Rahul lifted it on the palm of his hand and turned it towards the light. It reminded him of Meghna’s eyes, flashing at every turn of her head.

  Rahul looked at the salesman and said, “I need a size ten, please.” The salesman nodded his head before checking the size. “Could you wait for about fifteen minutes, Sir? We’ll have it altered by then. Or do you want to come back later?” He asked respectfully, while handing over the ring to his assistant to have it modified.

  “I’ll wait. Or better yet, can you show me some earrings and pendant to match the ring? Oh, by the way, I will be paying in British pounds. Please make my bill accordingly.”

  The salesman beamed at Rahul before moving over to another cabinet to get some earrings and necklaces to show his esteemed client.

  Rahul had never shopped for jewellery before. He realised he enjoyed buying things for Meghna. He would have preferred to have brought her along, but this evening was meant to be a surprise.

  Rahul came down to earth as the salesman placed the various trays before him. He stared at them as the opals and diamonds winked at him under the bright overhead lights. He studied the trays, one by one, visualising Meghna in each set of jewellery.

  Finally, he settled for earrings of exactly the same design as the ring and a necklace. Well, the necklace was a beauty. The design was V-shaped with a large opal in the centre with matching pairs of opals on both sides, the stones diminishing in size as they moved to the ends of the two branches of the ‘V’. Thin gold chains at the two ends went around the nape. Each opal was surrounded by tiny sparkling diamonds that appeared to wink at Rahul.